suzuki violin

[lucywill]

my ds2.6 years is mad about music. i am wondering about getting him started on an instrument as he gone through so many of the ELC pretend instruments and has a uke and guitar and electric guitar all of which he loves. does anyone have any views on starting on an instrument early? suzuki was around when i was a kid but my mum thought it was a bit too serious and we didn't start on anything til we were older. is this the case? i love the look of kids playing violins so little. thoughts? lucy

I think 2.6 is quite young even for suzuki! One of ds's friends has learned suzuki violin since she was 3 or 4 and is really very good now. As far as I know it requires a great deal of commitment from the parents- you have to go to all lessons and supervise all practise from a very early age. It gives children very good listening skills and suzuki children are often much better at memorising than conventionally trained musicians. Something they are good at is organising concerts where everyone takes part - even the tiniest beginners go onto the stage and take a bow.
I think you need a LOT of patience to start that young - progress is very slow - he might start with a cardboard violin for ages until he can do the bowing right before he even gets a 'proper' violin for example. It might be better to find a more general music class with singing and percussion etc first.

In short, Suzuki is not for everyone, but if you like the sound of it why not see if there's a teacher in your area and ask if you can go and watch a few sessions to see what it's really like?

You can get a small second hand violin for about £20. New it's more like £80, with the case (eek). Buy one. TReat with moderate care, but no more than any other £20 toy.

Small guitars are also really cheap. I think ours was about £25?

Recorders are practically no money, but they have to get the hang of blowing - kazoos are a cool transition, but not exactly "real, serious instruments".

Is there a piano in the house? (I know, I know, but the way most people don't have pianos just seems really weird to musicians, like not having a fridge or something)

Sod the pretend toys. Have real instruments as toys, adn then your child can develop an interest and pick them up when they feel like it and then leave them alone for a few months. No pressure. No point in lessons this young IMO, unless he turns into the next Yehudi Menuhin and starts demanding them aged 4.

Hi emmaagain -good thoughts indeed.

he has a guitar and a uke - both of which are much loved and restrung regularly such is his vigorous enthusiasm for them. we have recorders too - my old ones. and we do have a kazoo!
we don't have a piano - and i agree that would be the next step - because we live in a block where they are not permitted for noise reasons. shame eh.a violin is a good idea though.

i am with you on lessons being pointless this young but i thought suzuki was a bit different hence why they start them young.

How about a decent electronic keyboard? You can get ones which are touch sensitive and actaully a pretty good sound nowadays - I know an early music buff who'd rather play on his electric piano with harpsichord sound on than on a modern piano because it much more closely imitates the sound of a late 18th-century piano than a modern piano does

And of course an electronic keyboard has a volume control...

I'm writing this about 7 years too early for you, but NOT being able to play the piano/keyboard is a serious disability for any musician IMO, so if there is a lot of music in your home, then making the piano available at some point is a no-brainer.

Emmaagain, great idea. I am sure that a keyboard is allowed in our block. So weird the idea of not being able to have pianos - people love the sound of people practicing - don't they - i always do.
yes, i agree absolutely about learning piano. we will have moved by then i am sure.. will make sure i get somewhere big enough to take one. love the sound of your early music buff and the elec piano!! thanks.